See the Fiery Eruption of Ecuador Volcano

Tungurahua emits lava and a column of ash four miles high.

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Fire on the mountain: Tungurahua on February 27, 2016.

Photograph by Juan Cevallos, AFP, Getty Images

PUBLISHED March 4, 2016

Ecuador's volcano Tungurahua has been particularly active this week, spewing ash up to 23,000 feet (7 kilometers), putting on a fiery light show, and rumbling with at least 70 measurable explosions. Ash has dusted the region and some localized pyroclastic flows—masses of hot rock and gas—have been seen. Volcanic blocks have been tossed up to a kilometer away.

Tungurahua lies about 84 miles (135 kilometers) southeast of the capital city of Quito. The 16,475-foot (5,023-meter) volcano has been erupting intermittently since October 1999. Tungurahua means "throat of fire" in the region’s indigenous Quechua language.

Eruptions in 2006 killed at least four people, left two missing, and forced the evacuation of thousands of people. The volcano is currently on orange alert, and people are being advised to stay clear of the area.